Helping Pacific protect animals, livelihoods in disasters

The World Society
for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is working with
veterinarians and Government leaders from across the Pacific
this week to highlight the importance of planning for
animals during disasters. Improving animal welfare by
increasing the number of qualified vets and the standard of
veterinary care in the region is also high on the agenda for
WSPA’s CEO Mike Baker who is attending the Commonwealth
Veterinarian Association’s (CVA) conference in Nandi,
Fiji.

The CVA event follows a week of WSPA-led disaster
preparation training in Suva for 21 officials from Vanuatu,
Solomon Islands, Western Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook
Islands. Attendees learnt how to implement the globally
recognized Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards
(LEGS) which includes instruction on simple early warning
systems and well-coordinated evacuation of animals.

Every
year large numbers of animals suffer and die as a result of
natural disasters across the Pacific. With experts
predicting more frequent severe weather events as the
world’s climate changes [Climate Change Impacts in the
Asia/Pacific Region, ILFAD and The Global Mechanism.],
injury and loss of livestock will have a progressive impact
on Pacific nations, with a majority of people relying on
their animals for livelihoods and sustenance.

Helping
animals during adversities ensures communities are better
able to recover in the aftermath of cyclones, tsunamis and
flooding common across the region. Last week’s LEGS
session builds on similar training during 2012 bringing the
total number of regionally accredited officials to 49.

WSPA’s Disaster Management Operations Director for Asia
Pacific, Dr Ian Dacre said: “Our toughest challenges –
food security and safety, disease, economic development and
climate change – can only be tackled when the humane
treatment of animals is a fundamental part of the
solution.

“Our work to help animals starts with people.
In this case we are working with local communities in island
nations so they can better prepare and protect their animals
from more frequent severe weather events. We are empowering
people to take action and safeguard their animals – by
helping animals we are also helping people too.”

In
recent years WSPA has sent teams to Fiji to help animals and
communities following Cyclone Tomas in 2010 and severe
flooding in 2012. A team also responded to the Solomon
Islands earthquake and tsunami in February this year.

WSPA is also supporting the CVA as it tackles
challenges to improving animal welfare in the Pacific Island
Countries and Territories (PICTs) including increasing the
limited number of animal health services and considering the
case for a veterinary school in Fiji.

Chair of the
CVA Organising Committee Dr Robin Yarrow said: “Animals
are a vitally important part of Pacific island life and also
contribute significantly to food security and the regional
economy. Increasing demand for livestock products is
providing both opportunities and dilemmas; the welfare of
companion animals, marine and wildlife is also important,
yet we have a very limited number of veterinary
professionals to care for our many diverse animals.

He added: “We need to ensure better animal
protection and education because it makes sense for the
animals and for the people who depend on them. We need
people to understand the benefit of good animal welfare not
only for their animals but for themselves as well.”

The WSPA has also recently signed an MOU with the
CVA. The two organisations are dedicated to working together
to improve animal welfare across the Pacific region.

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